Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-08-25

Sandy Gunnel, to whom the claim nal
fallen, was disposed 20 be bully and brag-
CART, but there was Q dangerous look in
Fishys pale eyes; besides, with the exception
Of the nugget the claim had scarcely held is
own with the other holes which had been
sunk around it; 50 Sandy very wisely con-
cluded to avoid q quarrel
%Yer welcome to the hole" said he, SAN
III help ye to tote him back to it."
But the other men raised q demur. Il
would bring bad luck to "plant a corp" right
in the midst Of the diggings Fishy answered
their objections with . scornful ring in his
voice
"Ysr . purity lot, after OWN the find Of
the old diggin's to him, rs ye've alters owned
up. Looks to me a. IL ye owed this find 70
him too, an now 70 begrudge him the little
six foot by two of ground that he axed fur
But I'm guin' to see that be gifts it, il hev to
fight every man Of ye; an if I git the wust
Of it l don't doubt but Jim'll come back, rs
be said he would, to ha'nt ye all. He wor q
man of his word"
The vein Of superstition which runs
through the average miner was thrilled by
the recollection Of Jims threat, but it was
more admiration for the unexpected spirit
which Fisby was showing that Influenced
them to let him have his way. They all
turned to and helped unearth the rough cof-
fin, and carried it back to the side Of the
widened grave, where Fsby awaited them
"That'll do, boys, an thank ye all. Put
him inl No He axed to be buried at sun
rise, an at sunrise it shell be. I'll do thu
watchii'. though, as ye was up las night, but
I'll take it kind il yen be on hand in the
mornm'."
FIshy had gathered branches and started a
hre, the hickering CLEANS from which lit up
the whitish stones of the Devils Graveyard
until u looked like . graveyard in fact, and
SANDY Gunnei voiced the thought Of all as
they turned away by muttering:
Who'd a thought, boys, Fishy had SIGH
grits I'm glad it amt me stayin' alone with
o corp in that lonesome place"
he gave backward glance over his Shout
DER as be spoke, and a wild yell escaped from
his lips. There, sitting upright in his coffin,
with ghastay face and staring eyes, was the
dead man. They all saw that sight: then,
giving way to panic OF terror, they fed
pell nell, risking broken necks, down the
precipitous trail, all but Sandy Gunnel, whose
limbs doubled under him, who fell upon his
knees as the dread figure slowly raised a beck
oning hand, gaspng in abject terror:
Jim. oh Jim! don't ha'nt U.s. We wor
goin' to make it right. Go back, 20 dead
agin, an we'll bury ye thar, sure. Oh, Lordl"
A horrible grimace distorted the CHASTITY
face, the pale lips parted, but Sandy's senses
deserted him, and only Fishy heard the
boarse tones which issued therefrom.
I'VE will. will yer! Don't you be fool,
zoo pard. Help me out of this an give me q
drink"
When the miners. in fear and trembling,
made their way back to the DEVILS Grave
yard next morning they found only Sandy,
shivering over the ennbers Of the spent fire,
and he solemnly declared that the devil had
come there in the shape Of Jim Hardtack and
spir ted away Fishy before his very eyes.
There was the empty coffin to prove it if they
were inclined to doubt his words
The coffin was emiey and Fishy was gone,
and, no other explanation of the mystery oc-
curing, the boys came almost to believe
Sandy's story.
The new diggings got an evil name; one by
one the men left there and went back to the
Old ground until the place was deserted, but
it was not until weeks afterward, when two
bronzed men came tramping down the noun
tain, that the truth was made known that it
was Jim in the flesh who had come back that
mig Ut, who bad suffered the tortures OF deatn
dozen times over in being conscious Of all
that took place around him while he lay in
that deathlike trance, unable to lift finger
or speak a word. Lucky for him that the
rough box coffin was far from air tight:
lucky again that he had been dropped into
the cleft and the big stones rolled down,
cracking and loosening the lid while they
held back the earth piled upon them; but
most lucky of all that Fishy had been faith
full to his trust, or Jim Hardtack would never
have chuckled to himself, remembering the
fright he had given them, as he told his story.
The disappearance Of the two was but a
common phase of life in the mountains.
aye see, Fishy struck it rich on bis tramp:
we've worked out bunch of pockets and
made our pile, an now we're goin' back to
the states, an you fellers kin hev all thar is
OIL the Devils Gravey ard"
That spot, however, did not recover from
its i'll reputs; to this day it is believed that a
dark fate hangs over the man who is bold
enough to dig for its treasure.
JENNIE DAVIS BURTON.